撒母耳記上 8
1 撒母耳年紀老邁，就立他兒子作以色列的士師。
And it happened that, when Samuel had become old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.
2 長子名叫約珥，次子名叫亞比亞；他們在別是巴作士師。
Now the name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of the second was Abijah: judges at Beersheba.
3 他兒子不行他的道，貪圖財利，收受賄賂，屈枉正直。
But his sons did not walk in his ways. Instead, they turned aside, pursuing avarice. And they accepted bribes, and they perverted judgment.
4 以色列的長老都聚集，來到拉瑪見撒母耳，
Therefore, all those greater by birth of Israel, having gathered together, went to Samuel at Ramah.
5 對他說：「你年紀老邁了，你兒子不行你的道。現在求你為我們立一個王治理我們，像列國一樣。」
And they said to him: “Behold, you are elderly, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Appoint for us a king, so that he may judge us, just as all the nations have.”
6 撒母耳不喜悅他們說「立一個王治理我們」，他就禱告耶和華。
And the word was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, for they had said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord.
7 耶和華對撒母耳說：「百姓向你說的一切話，你只管依從；因為他們不是厭棄你，乃是厭棄我，不要我作他們的王。
Then the Lord said to Samuel: “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they are saying to you. For they have not rejected you, but me, lest I reign over them.
8 自從我領他們出埃及到如今，他們常常離棄我，事奉別神。現在他們向你所行的，是照他們素來所行的。
In accord with all their works, which they have done from the day when I led them away from Egypt, even to this day: just as they have forsaken me, and served foreign gods, so now they also do to you.
9 故此你要依從他們的話，只是當警戒他們，告訴他們將來那王怎樣管轄他們。」
Now therefore, hear their voice. Yet truly, testify to them and foretell to them the rights of the king who will reign over them.”
10 撒母耳將耶和華的話都傳給求他立王的百姓，說：
And so, Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people, who had petitioned a king from him.
11 「管轄你們的王必這樣行：他必派你們的兒子為他趕車、跟馬，奔走在車前；
And he said: “This will be the right of the king who will have authority over you: He will take your sons, and place them in his chariots. And he will make them his horsemen and his runners before his four-horse chariots.
12 又派他們作千夫長、五十夫長，為他耕種田地，收割莊稼，打造軍器和車上的器械；
And he will appoint them to be his tribunes and centurions, and the plowmen of his fields, and the harvesters of the grain, and the makers of his weapons and chariots.
13 必取你們的女兒為他製造香膏，做飯烤餅；
Likewise, your daughters he will take for himself as makers of ointments, and as cooks and bakers.
14 也必取你們最好的田地、葡萄園、橄欖園賜給他的臣僕。
Also, he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your best olive groves, and he will give them to his servants.
15 你們的糧食和葡萄園所出的，他必取十分之一給他的太監和臣僕；
Moreover, he will take one tenth of your grain and of the results of your vineyards, so that he may give these to his eunuchs and servants.
16 又必取你們的僕人婢女，健壯的少年人和你們的驢，供他的差役。
Then, too, he will take your servants, and handmaids, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and he will set them to his work.
17 你們的羊群他必取十分之一，你們也必作他的僕人。
Also, he will take a tenth of your flocks. And you will be his servants.
18 那時你們必因所選的王哀求耶和華，耶和華卻不應允你們。」
And you will cry out, in that day, from the face of the king, whom you have chosen for yourselves. And the Lord will not heed you, in that day. For you requested a king for yourselves.”
19 百姓竟不肯聽撒母耳的話，說：「不然！我們定要一個王治理我們，
But the people were not willing to listen to the voice of Samuel. Instead, they said: “By no means! For there shall be a king over us,
20 使我們像列國一樣，有王治理我們，統領我們，為我們爭戰。」
and we shall be just like all the Gentiles. And our king will judge us, and he will go out before us, and he will fight our wars for us.”
21 撒母耳聽見百姓這一切話，就將這話陳明在耶和華面前。
And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he spoke them to the ears of the Lord.
22 耶和華對撒母耳說：「你只管依從他們的話，為他們立王。」撒母耳對以色列人說：「你們各歸各城去吧！」
Then the Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and appoint a king over them.” And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Let each one go to his own city.”
